“I think what we could do is pass a very short term, maybe not six weeks, but what about one week, so we could negotiate over a week,” the Kentucky Republican told CNN’s “New Day.” “I think a continuing bill to keep the government open while we negotiate is a good idea. I do agree that negotiating with the government closed probably to [Democrats] appears like strong-arm tactics.”

But it does need to be short-term enough “that we are having an active negotiation that we don’t just say we’re going to fund it for three months or two months and come back,” he said.

“I think if we did it for a week or two, we could still continue to negotiate, have a conference committee and really I think the American people do want us to work this out,” Paul said.

“New Day” co-host Kate Bolduan told Paul that his comment “might be the first glimmer of hope I’ve heard all morning.”

In the earlier interview, Durbin told CNN that Democrats might be willing to dump the medical-device tax in a deal, as long as the GOP allowed the revenue to be replaced — by raising taxes elsewhere, presumably:

A repeal of the medical device tax may be a point of compromise between the House and the Senate as the two houses of Congress work to end the government shutdown, the number two Democrat in the Senate said Tuesday.

“We can work on something, I believe, on the medical device tax. That was one of the proposals from Republicans, as long as we replace the revenue,” Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois said on CNN’s “New Day.”

That’s probably a non-starter in terms of the actual eventual compromise, but it’s a shift in tone from last night’s “pass a clean CR or else” response from Harry Reid. Republicans could offer more spending cuts that could shift revenue, but that’s probably not going to fly if it’s used to fund ObamaCare through statutory spending rather than discretionary spending, and even more to the point, the GOP isn’t going to agree to anything that boosts ObamaCare, not even a revenue-neutral swap. I’d expect the eventual compromise to come on the elimination of the Congressional exemption, which is even more poisonous for Democrats than the medical-device tax, especially with its tie to Barack Obama via executive fiat.

If nothing else the congressional waver needs to die. It’s their law and they should be every bit as susceptible to it’s failures as the rest of the country. They didn’t bother to read it before voting for it so it’s their fault.

“We can work on something, I believe, on the medical device tax. That was one of the proposals from Republicans, as long as we replace the revenue,” Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois said on CNN’s “New Day.”

The Barking Seal throws this crap out there and of course the GOP will latch on, McCain will probably be the first.

Durbin, being one of the stupidest members of Congress, should be ignored but you just know he’s going to get traction with this.

I’ll tell you how this will end – Dingy and Teh SCOAMT get their “clean” CR, nothing concerning PlaceboCare gets altered because there will be at least one surrender monkey (probably from the Senate side) on the “GOP” half of the conference committee.

All Democrats have to do is wait until the end of October. By then, the government shutdown will have started to really hurt the economy, the markets and everyday Americans, particularly those on some form of aid. It will have been a month since civilian military members have gotten paid. Democrats don’t have to compromise on anything. The bill is law.

I’ll tell you how this will end – Dingy and Teh SCOAMT get their “clean” CR, nothing concerning PlaceboCare gets altered because there will be at least one surrender monkey (probably from the Senate side) on the “GOP” half of the conference committee.

No negotiations. The die is cast. Keep the shutdown until we get what we want. The shutdown only hurts the dems and dem constituents. There’s no incentive for the republicans to compromise now. If they’re going to get the blame and get dumped on by the media, they should get a political win out of it now.

All Democrats have to do is wait until the end of October. By then, the government shutdown will have started to really hurt the economy, the markets and everyday Americans, particularly those on some form of aid.

libfreeordie on October 1, 2013 at 10:54 AM

Replace government shutdown and replace with Obamacare and you get that scenario

All Democrats have to do is wait until the end of October. By then, the government shutdown will have started to really hurt the economy, the markets and everyday Americans, particularly those on some form of aid. It will have been a month since civilian military members have gotten paid. Democrats don’t have to compromise on anything. The bill is law.

libfreeordie on October 1, 2013 at 10:54 AM

Demorats are willing to have people suffer for an entire month, particularly those on some form of aid, instead of seeking a compromise earlier. Got it.

No negotiations. The die is cast. Keep the shutdown until we get what we want. The shutdown only hurts the dems and dem constituents. There’s no incentive for the republicans to compromise now. If they’re going to get the blame and get dumped on by the media, they should get a political win out of it now.

Iblis on October 1, 2013 at 10:58 AM

They shouldn’t surrender in any of it – including the shutdown messaging war.

All Democrats have to do is wait until the end of October. By then, the government shutdown will have started to really hurt the economy, the markets and everyday Americans, particularly those on some form of aid. It will have been a month since civilian military members have gotten paid. Democrats don’t have to compromise on anything. The bill is law.

libfreeordie on October 1, 2013 at 10:54 AM

And by the end of October everyone will know that the exchanges are a disaster and will have been informed by their employer of one of several things:
1. You’re fired because ObamaCare has made it too expensive to employ you
2. Your family is no longer covered because ObamaCare has made it too expensive to do so.
3. You’re now a part-time employee and will lose your employer subsidized health insurance because ObamaCare has made it too expensive (good luck on those exchanges which don’t work)
4. You’re going to pay a lot more for the health care plans we provide

The Democrat-led Senate rejected this morning the House GOP offer for a conference negotiation. Dingy Harry still wants the shutdown believing that, with the lamestream media’s help, this can be spun into a winning issue for the Dems in the 2014 midterms. (That’s as delusional as the Reid’s / Obama’s insistence that the US economy is in a real recovery.)

The House GOP has made a number of efforts to achieve a deal, all of which were summarily rejected by the Democrats who only are interested in a GOP surrender. Rational people see this despite the spin from the lamestream media. This isn’t 95-96…the Dems are in a far weaker position.

The House GOP continues to offer CR’s that seek to eliminate the waivers and exemptions the Executive Branch unilaterally gave – particularly to Congress and Federal Employees. Let the Dems continue to reject these for the next few days. By the weekend, take to the pulpit, highlight the actions of Reid / Obama, and give them a ‘clean CR’ based on the sequester numbers. Say that the GOP will no longer let Reid / Obama hold the people hostage – and pivot to the real fight – the debt ceiling issue that has to be resolved by Oct 17.

Then the House GOP mirrors back on Reid / Obama everything they did to the GOP – because Obama has to get an increase in the debt ceiling or else he is really toast for his 2nd term. That’s the hill you make the Progressives die on.

The Medical Device Tax is a funding mechanism for Obamacare – so how do we selectively strip that out? I mean, the president said this just the other day: “This is a law that passed both houses of Congress, a law that bears my signature, a law that the Supreme Court upheld as constitutional, a law that voters chose not to repeal last November.” So now we’re going to start tweaking that law? Hell, why not just start over, Dickie?

I’d expect the eventual compromise to come on the elimination of the Congressional exemption, which is even more poisonous for Democrats than the medical-device tax, especially with its tie to Barack Obama via executive fiat.

Elimination of the Obama subsidy (it’s not an exemption) is exactly what the Rs need to be insisting upon, and forget the “delay” business at least for now. Why? The average voter and the LIVs can understand the special treatment argument, it’s so simple, plus we need to change the narrative from government shutdown back to how screwed up and disorganized ObamaCare is. This may well be the reason Obama and the Ds have refused to negotiate on the CR, knowing that the shiny object of the shutdown would deflect attention to the ObamaCare roll-out debacle.

You’re right. The Democrats should – and will – make a resolute stand for crony deals the president has insisted on for those on Capitol Hill and for large corporations and a law which we already know is a disaster. Democrats don’t care who doesn’t get paid or aid as long as their special deals stay in place and there is no delay to the ever-increasing encroachment of national government into the lives of every citizen. Obama will make deals with despots across the globe who murder and oppress their citizens but at home his political adversaries are labelled terrorists and he will not compromise. I’m glad you showed up today to own this.

“When we disagree,” Sen. Rand Paul told CNN’s New Day, “historically we’ve gone to conference committee.” Republicans in the House tried that, and Kate Bouldan tells Paul that Dick Durbin declared that Democrats are open to a conference committee — despite rejecting the offer this morning on a straight party-line vote.

I know Ed Morrissey is a partisan hack, but he should still have pointed out that Rand Paul was one of those Senators which PREVENTED going to conference committee on eighteen different occasions from late March 2013 to date.

F*ck negotiating; these Democrat ratf*ckers have had ample opportunity to ‘negotiate’; they can now go straight to hell.

Send them a new CR – non-negotiable – that is more onerous than the last. And if they reject it, send another than includes everything from before, but makes it even more painful to accept. Send them a message that with each rejection, *their* position will only worsen.

Seems like Senator Paul is manuevering to take the wind out of Cruz’s sails.

It was just a comment for now… but if Paul continues talking this way and ends up ‘leading’ towards that end… well, clearly this entire shutdown stage show will just end up being a proxy war in the 2016 GOP presidential primary.

I think what we are really watching is a chess game, played on a very large scale, between Cruz and Paul.

“We can work on something, I believe, on the medical device tax. That was one of the proposals from Republicans, as long as we replace the revenue,”

Cut out Michelle’s vacations.

A CR that simply removes the Congressional exemption of Obamacare. If it’s so wonderful for everyone else, then it’s wonderful for Congress & staffers. If Obamacare is a crap sandwich for Congressional staffers, then Obamacare is a crap sandwich for everyone.

All Democrats have to do is wait until the end of October. By then, the government shutdown will have started to really hurt the economy, the markets and everyday Americans, particularly those on some form of aid. It will have been a month since civilian military members have gotten paid. Democrats don’t have to compromise on anything.

libfreeordie on October 1, 2013 at 10:54 AM

I love it when you regurgitate groupthink.

Want reality, sweet pants?

1. People on aid wouldn’t feel a damn thing until January.

2. Federal work stoppage can only effect the markets by Barry’s Buddies trying to effect the market.

3. Civilian military has its own ecosystem. Whatever they’re doing without or cannot pay gets covered or put on hold. Only in your prog pipedream are these people going to lose their current livelihoods.

I hope, I pray, you progs push this thing a month. Like Sequestration, when the effects don’t kick in as fear-mongered, you’re SOL.

F*ck negotiating; these Democrat ratf*ckers have had ample opportunity to ‘negotiate’; they can now go straight to hell.

Send them a new CR – non-negotiable – that is more onerous than the last. And if they reject it, send another than includes everything from before, but makes it even more painful to accept. Send them a message that with each rejection, *their* position will only worsen.

F*CK THEM.

Midas on October 1, 2013 at 11:21 AM

That’s one strategy. My strategy would be to start from zero, and only fund essential parts of the government, slowly and selectively. I actually expect the republicans to cave.

Paul: Let’s get a 1-week CR to give us time to negotiate in conference

No. You’ve got all the time in the world but you don’t need a CR to negotiate. In fact, having the added pressure of a partial shut down might mean that Dems are more willing to do right by Americans and less apt to protect themselves and the parasites that work for them. There is absolutely no reason why the taxpayer should be forces to subsidize somebody making over $100K year.

All Democrats have to do is wait until the end of October. By then, the government shutdown will have started to really hurt the economy, the markets and everyday Americans, particularly those on some form of aid. It will have been a month since civilian military members have gotten paid. Democrats don’t have to compromise on anything.

libfreeordie on October 1, 2013 at 10:54 AM

Long before that, the debt ceiling will have been reached. Dems remain acting like spoiled children at the risk of default. And I don’t think your stupid lazy idol wants to default.

I am trying to figure out the timing. How long they will play the game, before they bring out what they really want – and it does not have to do with Obamacare.

This is how Paul could step up and take a leadership position. He actually wants to pause Obamacare funding, and continue the rest of gov. The honchos are letting others fill in the blanks. Which leads folk to assume everyone wants a resolution between the Paul stand, and the Dems

Will they have the guts to bring in the foot in the door Amnesty they have been constructing behind the scenes, as the only way to strike a deal between the party of the first part (WH) and the party of the second part (RINO).

Refuse to talk. Let the pickets begin. Let the MSM stage the play. And then let themselves be dragged, kicking, screaming, and laughing their heads off, into a ‘forced’ compromise on amnesty, part I, as the only way to heal the nation and continue the charade of a good economy.

If they get the ‘forced’ comromise they want, they will broadcast it as proof the Tea Party is dead

Well, if Rand Paul is already backing away from the hardliners, it’s pretty clear that this is turning into a Tea Party Waterloo. I’m sure Reid and Obama already know what — if any — minor concessions they’ll give the Republicans so they can pretend to save face.

Then. we’ll have a repetitive, if more farcical, showdown over the debt ceiling and when the Tea Party loses that one, too, we will finally have heard the end of them as a serious force.

All Democrats have to do is wait until the end of October. By then, the government shutdown will have started to really hurt the economy, the markets and everyday Americans, particularly those on some form of aid. It will have been a month since civilian military members have gotten paid. Democrats don’t have to compromise on anything. The bill is law.

libfreeordie on October 1, 2013 at 10:54 AM

It’s The Law. All those massive transfers of wealth from the poorer young to the richer old people. It’s the law. What a victory for liberalism. Good job guys.

Well, if Rand Paul is already backing away from the hardliners, it’s pretty clear that this is turning into a Tea Party Waterloo. I’m sure Reid and Obama already know what — if any — minor concessions they’ll give the Republicans so they can pretend to save face.

Then. we’ll have a repetitive, if more farcical, showdown over the debt ceiling and when the Tea Party loses that one, too, we will finally have heard the end of them as a serious force.

urban elitist on October 1, 2013 at 11:51 AM

The Democrats are great at getting political victories. It’s too bad that they really suck at running the country.

Screw the medical evict tax. What about my taxes! If Durbin wants to negotiate, fine. Let him talk to Harry Reid. But I see no reason why medical device manufacturers should get a break, and I shouldn’t. That tax was characterized as absolutely critical when the bill was passed, because the Democrats knew that general tax revenues already existing were not going to be a source for funding the odious ObamaCare. Now that the law is three years old, they want to start repairing some of the especially stupid pieces, and why on earth Republicans would want to help them is beyond all comprehension.

Reid will negotiate — he’s a genetic horse-trader — but he’d be a fool to do so now, when the Republicans are so clearly unable to get their act together.

Republicans tend to negotiate by saying “my way or the highway.”

Let’s hear a compromise that makes sense.

urban elitist on October 1, 2013 at 12:12 PM

Actually no. Obama and Reid have both said unequivocally in the last several days that they will not negotiate at all.

The House has passed several CR’s each with fewer demands and Reid has refused to go to conference to hash out the differences. Reid is willing to compromise but making Congress live by the law is not negotiable? The medical device tax is not negotiable? The individual mandate (note the corporations already illegally have their own)? So tell me exactly what Reid is willing to compromise on?

Of course. The point of sending it is to reinforce the impression that they don’t care about getting any part of government back to unless it is everything they want which means they want the part that is collapsing under it’s own weight today.

Ignored? Voted down? Either way, the Dems will be seen as holding military personnel and civilian employees hostage to their selfish parochial interests. The Republicans will be seen as trying to get government up and running.

Send the Senate a Clean DOJ CR tomorrow. A functioning DOJ is the next basic responsibility of government. Let the Dems be seen as holding that hostage, too.

Send them a clean Treasury CR the next day. No matter what other departments are up, if Treasury isn’t open, checks don’t go out or might be delayed. How many hostages do the Dems want to hold?

You’re right, Republicans should stop trying to negotiate with the terrorist Democrats. Great point.

Rule 2. Elections have consequences.

Another great point. The House was sent to DC by their constituents to do exactly what they’re doing now (and more of it, actually). Cruz et al have a job, clearly won their elections based on their principles, and should continue to fight for them.

lostmotherland on October 1, 2013 at 12:01 PM

I know you’re actually stupid and didn’t make the points with the same intent, but… well, you shouldn’t just regurgitate brainless DNC talking points that actually undermine what you think you’re cleverly saying, because, well, neither you nor the talking points are very clever.

C-span reported around 10Am or so that Reid said he WAS NOT going to conference that Boehner requested. That was on the screen.

bluefox on October 1, 2013 at 12:25 PM

Good.

Like happened when the dreaded sequester monster not-so-catastrophically destroyed America, citizens are going about their business today and seeing no effective impact of the shutdown, and the market is loving it.

I think the extremists are the ones who couldn’t defund Obamacare by winning elections and passing a bill, and so are throwing a snit-fit.

urban elitist on October 1, 2013 at 12:12 PM

You think that because you are being a petty partisan who will jealously cling to bad governance and disastrous policy to score points on the board.

Look, we have divided government and the Democrats are going to have to give instead of take, take, and take. A one year delay, given BarryCare’s problems, is beyond reasonable. Having Congress live under the same law it expects us average, everyday folk to live under is also beyond reasonable.

If anything, these two offers are blessings for Democrats that they should be happy to take.

Reid will negotiate — he’s a genetic horse-trader — but he’d be a fool to do so now, when the Republicans are so clearly unable to get their act together.

urban elitist on October 1, 2013 at 12:12 PM

He’s a fool to block funding for the government, delay horrible policy that is falling apart LIVE on TELEVISION, and allow Congress — in aristocratic fashion — exempt itself from laws it passes for the rest of us.

To Durbin’s point, why are they worried about the revenue from the medical device tax but not worried about the revenue from the employer mandate? If the GOP want to make a point, they would kill the MD tax and make employers respect the “law of the land”.

Actually no. Obama and Reid have both said unequivocally in the last several days that they will not negotiate at all.

The House has passed several CR’s each with fewer demands and Reid has refused to go to conference to hash out the differences. Reid is willing to compromise but making Congress live by the law is not negotiable? The medical device tax is not negotiable? The individual mandate (note the corporations already illegally have their own)? So tell me exactly what Reid is willing to compromise on?

gwelf on October 1, 2013 at 12:15 PM

The House picked this fight by opening with a non-starter: defunding Obamacare. In the last couple of days, as the Republicans have begun to acknowledge reality, there have been signals that Reid might talk. But, since the Republicans are splintered and backtracking, he’s doing the only intelligent thing — waiting until there’s actually a chance that the Republicans have a coherent, realistic position (that they can deliver on) and, related, waiting to see how much ground they’ll give up on their own.

In the past, Reid/Obama have compromised on things like the sequester, the stimulus (half tax cuts, you know), postponing repeal of the Bush tax cuts and so on. And, many Republicans have proved themselves adult in this regard, to be sure.

But Boehner cannot at this point deliver his caucus because the Tea Party has no actual interest in governing.

In the last couple of days, as the Republicans have begun to acknowledge reality, there have been signals that Reid might talk.

This spin is almost at the MSNBC level of delusional…. Signals that Reid might talk – when just this AM we get the party line vote against any conference to talk – and Reid’s position remains no talks, no negotiations, and no compromise – only the surrender of the GOP to the position he and Obama holds?

Oh, and that sequester agreement, part and parcel of that agreement was that both sides would agree to talks / negotiations on future budget issues – which translates to Obama / Reid’s position of no talks, no negotiations, and no compromise how?
Even the US News and World Report gets it…

Truth be told, Obama and Reid want a shutdown – unless they get everything they want. That means not just the survival of Obamacare but the busting of the spending caps so that the federal spigot can be turned back on and the money can start flowing once again to the constituent groups that are such an important part of the Democrat’s electoral coalition. Anyone who doubts this should just look at the way the White House has been handing out waivers on Obamacare and to whom. In the political sense, they’re the next best thing to cash.

There are some in the conservative coalition who really do want to force a government shutdown as they see it as the only way, the last gasp if you will, to stop Obamacare before it starts to be implemented. What most of the Washington punditocracy won’t tell you is that the White House, Harry Reid and the Democrats want a shutdown just as much if not more They see it as the pathway back to control of the House after the 2014 election, which would allow Obama to finish his term much the same way he started it – with no checks and balances on him whatsoever.

How about you get back to us, hopefully prior to Oct 17, when your caucus is willing to stop playing petty politics and actually solve some of the challenges your caucus has inflicted. Otherwise, you’ll find the issue will not be the $3.7T – $3.8T you want to spend for FY2014 (compared to the $2.6T spent in FY2007), but how you explain another credit downgrade, soaring interest costs, and more inflation because there will not be another debt ceiling increase without a fundamental change in the spending trajectory or tax / entitlement reform. Cloward & Piven is not a viable, sustainable, or responsible tactic.

The House picked this fight by opening with a non-starter: defunding Obamacare. In the last couple of days, as the Republicans have begun to acknowledge reality, there have been signals that Reid might talk. But, since the Republicans are splintered and backtracking, he’s doing the only intelligent thing — waiting until there’s actually a chance that the Republicans have a coherent, realistic position (that they can deliver on) and, related, waiting to see how much ground they’ll give up on their own.

In the past, Reid/Obama have compromised on things like the sequester, the stimulus (half tax cuts, you know), postponing repeal of the Bush tax cuts and so on. And, many Republicans have proved themselves adult in this regard, to be sure.

But Boehner cannot at this point deliver his caucus because the Tea Party has no actual interest in governing.

So, get back to me when your caucus gets its act together.

urban elitist on October 1, 2013 at 12:35 PM

So, in other words you cant tell me what Reid is willing to compromise on after stating that the GOP has already made large concessions. Hey look, if you don’t want Reid to compromise just say it. If you don’t think he needs to compromise just say it. But to claim that Reid is actually willing to compromise when he’s explicitly said he’s not is insulting (you’re either insulting yourself with your ignorance or me because you think I’m ignorant).

Reid and Obama have not said they’re waiting for a “reasonable” offer. They have both said they wont deal with terrorists.

So, in other words you cant tell me what Reid is willing to compromise on after stating that the GOP has already made large concessions. Hey look, if you don’t want Reid to compromise just say it. If you don’t think he needs to compromise just say it. But to claim that Reid is actually willing to compromise when he’s explicitly said he’s not is insulting (you’re either insulting yourself with your ignorance or me because you think I’m ignorant).

Reid and Obama have not said they’re waiting for a “reasonable” offer. They have both said they wont deal with terrorists.

gwelf on October 1, 2013 at 12:58 PM

Acknowledging reality isn’t a concession.

I want Reid to get the best deal he can, and I accept compromise if necessary. Why he should cave on a bunch of battles we fought hard for an won I have no idea, but if modest concessions are necessary to get back on track, I’m confident that Reid will make them and we will swallow them.

Besides, who does he negotiate with? Boehner? Cruz? Paul? You can’t negotiate with a mob.

Obamacare is a done deal. It has been, for four years and two elections. If you want a compromise, look for something that doesn’t attempt to gut Obamacare. Cut a spending program or something and expect to get a couple of corporate loopholes closed in return.

Shutting down congresses paid medical care is peanuts and a lousy swap for the bigger goal. Obama will just ignore law and slip them(Chicago style) some loose change from his shovel-ready stash or have the feds print up more funny money.

It may feel good but a bad idea. The only pain they mind is losing the next couple of elections which will happen if Obamacare become s the weapon of choice for the GOP–if they only get some Viagra spine and dare make it into the crisis it is–and actual “splain” it daily to the masses.